OP, I don't get your logic. You got a car for free. All you have to do is fix it as the repairs crop up. If you bought a new car, you'd pay for the car itself, and then still have to pay for the repairs as they crop up, only possibly at a later date. How is buying a new car going to save you money?

Brake job should be $300ish - that's only one car payment. the other stuff is probably another car payment or two. This is totally normal stuff for a car that is 7 years old and has 100K miles on it. And yes, most volvos will last a looooong time.

What is your actual gas mileage? Because I drive an Acura TSX that gets about 22 miles to the gallon in normal driving and a couple weeks ago I drove a hybrid for a weekend. It got only 23-24 MPG.

I drive a 2000 Toyota with 172k miles on it.
Brakes are normal.
Timing belt at every 100k miles is normal. (My last car I had to replace it twice- yes it had over 200k miles on it.)
The fuel is it's own can of worms- but considering this car was a gift... the repairs and fuel are easily cheaper than a new car payment I'd say.

If you are really dying to sell it, put it on Autotrader.com You can buy a package that will post it until it sells for $100 I believe. Then you can see what other people value the car for in your area, too.

Thanks for the responses. I guess it has life left, but it needs a brake job, and timing belt, it has some suspension fluid leak, that could easily be a black hole. Plus it's about $200/m in fuel costs.

I assume I can't sell it in the open market without the leak taken care of.

Any thoughts on where to get the most money for it?

I don't even like cars... I want to buy a horse...

This car has way too much life left in it.

Dude. I have a '94 that's still going. Don't waste money on a newer car.

I'm also in the same boat. I have an 04 Odyssey with 90k miles on it and it needs about $4k worth of work. I'm debating on trading it in to get another vehicle because in reality, it's only worth maybe $10k if I sell it myself. Right away I need the power steering (rack & pinion) fixed which is going to cost me $1,100 then I'm going to need 4 new tires, which is about another $800 --- so I'm debating as well, but I hate car payments, even though we will buy a used vehicle.

I can't believe an 06 Volvo is only worth $5k.

Volvo are notorious for breaking down. Just get the Prius.

I'm still driving my '04, will hit 125K by Labor Day, but I'm in you're shoes, I fear long trips now b/c I cannot buy a new car today.

FWIW, I asked my guy, he said its emission type issues, like catolic (sic) covertor that will go before engine trouble.

Anonymous wrote:A 2006 volvo with only 106K miles? You have another 100K to go before you should even think seriously about getting rid of it. Fix what's wrong with it and maintain it well from here on out.

You want a new car. You don't need it.

I agree. 106k miles? That is nothing. I am still driving my 99 with way more miles then that.

It is cheaper to pay for gas and repairs vs paying a car note for the next 5 years plus repairs plus increased insurance plus gas.

A 2006 volvo with only 106K miles? You have another 100K to go before you should even think seriously about getting rid of it. Fix what's wrong with it and maintain it well from here on out.

You want a new car. You don't need it.

It depends on what is actual wrong with the Volvo. If it is the engine or perhaps trans then I would get an older used car-older then 2011.

yes you suck it up. you got a free car FFS.

We have a 2006 Volvo xc90, which was a gift last year, that has 106,000 miles on it and needs work. We figure its the beginning of the end, and it's too big for us anyway. Gets terrible mileage, which I hate. Took it to car max, they said trade in value was $5000.

We have two young kids, and do short urban commutes, plus long trips up and down the east coast several times a year. In the last 12 months, we put on 15,000 miles.

We're looking at Prius wagon, subaru outback, and Jetta wagon tdi. We like them all, but they're all in the mid $20k (assuming we get a 2011 or 2012 model), and that would leave us w a $300 + car payment, which we can afford, but not by very much.

I want this next car to be one that really lasts us. We just gave up our 2001 subaru last year. Loved it.

Any thoughts? Do I throw a few grand at the Volvo and suck up the fuel costs in order to avoid a big car payment for 5 years? Or, is it time to suck it up and have a car payment?